Engaging the Houthis in Yemen: A Repeat of China’s Afghanistan Mediation Strategy?

Date: 2020-02-20

Author: Barbara Kelemen

This commentary provides an overview of China’s engagement with the Houthi movement over the past few years. It compares Beijing’s relationship with the Houthis to that of another armed non-state actor, the Taliban, with an eye towards identifying the trajectory this engagement might take. The commentary also considers how this relationship, in addition to the developments taking place in Sino-Saudi relations, are shaping Chinese mediation efforts in Yemen since 2015.